Stepping back, and then leaning forward

Possible explanation for the palette knife difficulties - using acrylics (instead of oils) in our hot and super dry weather. The paint was drying too fast to use effectively and accurately. I can test that theory by trying knife painting with oils, since the weather is still very hot and dry.

Two of my current paintings are not going well and both are ones that do not have a proper photo reference, just a mental concept: the Monarch butterflies and the dock of rowboats at sunset. Maybe my mental pictures are like my mental notes - 'not worth the paper they are not written on.'
Note to self - There must be some good references hiding in those 40,000 photos - find them!

Also I am looking at an older painting that is dreadful, but has a very good photo reference. I can see that at some point I stopped checking the photo and the painting went totally off course. I still love the photo, so should I correct the painting or oil prime the canvas and paint it again?  Painting new is way more fun than fixing mistakes :)
​OK - that canvas is now back to white and I am looking forward to painting that amazing sky and reflection.